Pritzker establishes exploratory committee to consider a run for governor

[brooklynite]

Chicago Tribune:

Raising the potential cash stakes in next year's race, billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday formally created a fundraising committee to explore a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor.

The move comes as Pritzker, a wealthy entrepreneur, investor and heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, has held private meetings with Democratic leaders as part of a listening tour for a potential candidacy.

"As I've traveled across Illinois, I've listened to people express their deep concerns about the direction of our state. It is clear that having a governor who's unwilling to address our state's challenges is having a real impact on people's lives," Pritzker said in a statement.

"Today, I will take the next step in this process by filing an exploratory committee. I look forward to continuing my conversations with people across Illinois who are currently being forced to pay the price of failed leadership from Gov. (Bruce) Rauner," he said.

[truebluegreen]

1. Ugh

[brooklynite]

2. Other potential candidates

Daniel Biss (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Mathematician & Ex-College Professor
Bob Daiber (D) - Madison County Superintendent of Schools & Teacher
Will Guzzardi (D) - State Rep. & Ex-Journalist
Robin Kelly (D) - Congresswoman, Ex-Cook County Chief Administrative Officer & Ex-State Rep.
Chris Kennedy (D) - Businessman, Ex-Univ. of Illinois Trustee & Son of US Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
Andy Manar (D) - State Sen., Ex-Macoupin County Board Member & Ex-Bunker Hill Mayor
Alex Paterakis (D) - Civil Engineer & Businessman
Ameya Pawar (D) - Chicago Alderman & Ex-University Official
Pat Quinn (D) - Ex-Governor & Ex-Lt. Governor
Kwame Raoul (D) - State Sen. & Attorney
Heather Steans (D) - State Sen. & Ex-Strategic Planner
Kurt Summers (D) - Chicago City Treasurer & Ex-Financial Executive

[alarimer]

3. Just in general, these are the kinds of candidates we can do without.

Not speaking specifically to Illinois, but wealthy, investor-types are not going to be good candidates. Why does every millionaire and billionaire think they have what it takes to govern ANYTHING? Trump ought to disabuse us of that notion.

What Democrats need, generally, are the community organizer types, the rabble-rousers, teachers, scientists, whatever. Anything but BUSINESSPEOPLE. I think Sanders in particular is very, very good at connecting with people and selling those ideas. Warren is too. We need more of that, and less of the patrician, Ivy League types that infest the Democratic Party (not the elected officials so much as the people who pull the strings within states and control who gets to be a candidate. The party machine, in other words).

I'm starting think that drafting candidates from among the working and middle classes is a better idea. But Washington and the party establishment is infested with poseurs who have no idea what it's like to have a real job. Every single intern or staffer is from some elite college who only got there because of their connections (and true, often, only rich kinds can afford internships in DC). They may mean well; they might even have good ideas, but they cannot CONNECT with people.

[truebluegreen]

4. +1. nt